10 MUST-READ BOOKS FOR YOUR HALLOWEEN TBR LIST

Halloween is around the corner…literally! Are you still trying to decide which bookish costume you’re going with this year? Are you ready to read the books that will keep you up at night and make the hair on the back of your neck stand up? Then, we have the list for you! Today, we are participating in this week’s Top Ten Tuesday Halloween Freebie with some spooky reads to add to that never ending TBR List.

The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor Lavalle
When Charles Thomas Tester delivers an occult tome to a reclusive sorceress, he opens a door to a realm of magic and gets the attention of things best left sleeping. If you like the stories by H.P Lovecraft, but aren’t a fan of his racism, then this book is for you! The Ballad of Black Tom is a clever retelling of Lovecraft’s infamous story The Horror of Red Hook.

Battle Royale by Koushun Takami and Yuji Oniki (Translator)A class of junior high school student is taken to a deserted island where they are forced to kill one another until only one survivor is left. Everyone compares The Hunger Games to this book, but we heard that Battle Royale puts that book to shame.

Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-GarciaDomingo is a lonely street kid trying to survive. Atl is a descendent of Aztec blood drinkers who needs to escape to South America from a rival vampire clan. Ana is a cop following a trail of corpses that lands her in the middle of vampire gang rivalries. Vampires, humans, cops, and gangsters collide in the dark streets of Mexico City. Based on the reviews from other readers, be prepared for a blood bath and a rich, complex story with this read.

When Coraline explores her family’s new flat, she discovers a passage to another flat that looks just like hers, but … it’s different. The other mother and the other father want Coraline to stay with them and be their little girl. Coraline will have to fight with all her wits and all the tools she can find to save her ordinary life. This book may be written for children, but it is sure to delight book lovers are all ages who love a creative, creepy story.

Dracula by Bram Stoker Count Dracula wants to move from Transylvania to England in search of new blood and to spread the undead curse. Even people who have never read Dracula are familiar with the lore through the many adaptations and interpretations of the story in film, books, and television.

An amnesiac girl learns she is a genetically modified 53-year-old vampire. She must learn what she can about her stolen former life while learning who wants to destroy her and her loved ones. This is the perfect read for fans of science fiction who are looking to read diverse narratives because Octavia Butler represents one of the few black women science fiction writers.

Frankenstein by Mary ShelleyCommitted science student Victor Frankenstein is obsessed with discovering how to create life and animate lifeless matter. Frankenstein assembles a human being from stolen body parts and successfully brings it to life, but recoils in horror at his hideous creation. Frankenstein was an instant bestseller that raised profound questions like, “What does it mean to be human?” and “How are far can we go in tampering with nature?” that are more relevant than ever in today’s society

Four people arrive at Hill House. In the beginning, their stay seems to be a spooky encounter with inexplicable phenomena, but Hill House is gathering powers and will soon choose one of the seekers to make its own. The Haunting of Hill House has been called a perfect work of unnerving terror. An adaptation is currently available for viewing on Netflix.

The Little Stranger by Sarah WatersDr. Faraday is called from his rural home to the once impressive Hundreds Hall, home of the Ayres family. The owners are struggling to keep pace with a changing society while being haunted by something more sinister. Dr. Faraday is unaware how their story is about to become intimately entwined with his. This gothic read that is one of the books that recently came to the big screen.

Rick Grimes, a Kentucky deputy shot in the line of duty, wakes up from a coma during a zombie apocalypse. After joining a group of survivors, he gradually becomes the leader of the newly formed community as it struggles to survive. The Walking Dead has received the Eisner Award for Best Continuing Series and has inspired a TV show loosely based on the comic book storyline, as well as a companion TV series. There are also web series and novels. Your Walking Dead fandom can last forever…just like a zombie, theoretically.

Your Turn

So…what’s your favorite scary story? Are you excited for Halloween? Have you read any spooky books from our list? Let us know in the comments! |RL